Camera shutter with automatic diaphragm



June 7, 1949. c. c. FUER ST CAMERA SHUTTER WITH AUTOMATIC DIAPHRAGM 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed May 21, 1945 CARL C. FUERST INVENTOR BY A TTORNEYS June 7, 1949. c. c. FUERST 2,472,580

CAMERA SHUTTER WITH AUTOMATIC DIAPHRAGM Original Filed May 21, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 W/'/////////7//////////i Z 213 21 \\\\\\\\\&

HIT-1,62% 16 FIG. 5. i 2124 64 56 55 CARL c. FUERST f INVENTOR 55 5 ,W

i&\ I 1"? i V57 g L 44 M10 ATTORNEY June 7, 1949. c. c. FUERST 2,472,580

CAMERA SHUTTER WITH AUTOMATIC DIAPHRAGM Original Filed May 21, 1945 8 Shets-Sheet 3 CARL C. FUERST INVENTOR ATTORNEYS June 7, 1949. c. c. FUERST 2,472,580

CAMERA SHUTTER WITH AUTOMATIC DIAPHRAGM Original Filed May 21, 1945 a Sheets-Sheet 4 CARL c. FUERST A TTORNEY S June 7, 1949. c. c. FUERST CAMERA SHUTTER WITH AUTOMATIC DIAPHRAGM 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed May 21, 1945 CARL c. FUERST INVENTOR BY M70. 02 ATTORNEYS June 7, 1949. c, c, u s 2,472,580

CAMERA SHUTTE R WITH AUTOMATIC DIAPHRAGM Original Filed May 21, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 CARL c. FUERST INVENTOR 4 TTORNE Y5 June 7, 1949. c. c. FUERST 2,472,580

CAMERA SHUTTER WITH AUTOMATI C DIAPHRAGM Original Filed May 21, 1945 I 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 T 21 155 153154 67 FR]. 20. fil

l X! 4% -J I I HL m 65-E1 I L 223 i K L W 10 A 153 151 140 147 146 {mi J52 14 150 C" 145 139 L 1 IL! I I :1

CARL c. FUERST INVENTO MZW BY a:

ATTORNEYS 'June 7, 1949. c. c. FUERST 2,472,580

CAMERA SHUTTER WITH AUTOMATIQ DIAPHRAGM Original Fi1ed May 21, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 FIG.Z4.

CARL C. FUERST v INVENTOR Patented June 7, 1949 CAMERA SHUTTER. wrrn AUTOMATIC DIAPHRAGM Carl C. Fuerst, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Easieman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y., a; corporation of New Jersey Original application May 21, 1945, Serial No. 595,033. Divided and this application July 13, 1946, Serial No. 683,515

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to shutters for cameras. It particularly relates to shutters of the type in which a plurality of shutter leaves are pivotally mounted and connected toa ring, the blades being movable in one direction to open and close the aperture in both making an exposure and in setting. In setting, a diaphragm is automatically actuated to close the opening while the leaves open and close and to open to a predetermined stop afterwards.

One object of my invention is to provide a shutter which will function as above described which requires no special attention on the part of the operator. Still another object of my invention is to drive the diaphragm mechanism for operating the diaphragm leaves in one direction by setting the shutter blade moving means. Other objects will appear from the following specification, the novel features being particularly pointed out in the claims at the end thereof.

This application is a division of my co-pending application Ser. No. 595,033, for Photographic shutter, filed May 21, 1945, this application being a continuation-in-part of my co-pendin application Ser. No. 549,529, Photographic shutter, filed August 15, 1944, now abandoned. The structure of this application is for an improvement over the shutters with automatic diaphragms shown in my patents: 2,362,546, Camera shutter, Nov. 14, 1944; 2,362,547, Diaphragm shutter, Nov. 1-4, 1944; 2,382,624, Camera shutter, Aug. 14, 1945; and 2,384,615, Camera shutter, Sept. 11, 1945.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote like parts throughout:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a typical shutter constructed in accordance with, and embodying, a preferred form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a preferred form of shutter blades and a shutter blade operating rings used in the shutter of Fig. 1. This view shows only certain parts in a set position ready for an exposure;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with the parts moved to their released position which they assume after an exposure has been made;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged front elevation of the shutter shown in-Fig. 1, but with the shutter cover and adjusting cams removedto expose the mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a, fragmentary detail section through the master member and associated parts taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail front elevation of parts of the shutter actuating mechanism, parts being omitted for clearness';

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail front elevation of certain shutter parts including the blade op erati'ng rings and certain controls therefor;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged schematic fragmentary sectional view through a portion of the shutter shown in Fig. 1, a portion of this View (shown by section line AA) being taken through a portion of the blade ring arm to show the relation of these parts in the shutter casing chambers;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary front plan View of a portion of the blade rings and master member, the parts being shown in a set position and for exposures of normal automatic speeds;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but with the parts positioned for a high speed exposure. The parts are in a set position;

Fig. 11 is a view substantially similar to Figs. 8 and 9 but with the parts in position to open the blades as the master member moves from one contact surface to another;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to the views of Figs. 9 to 11, inclusive, but-with the parts in their exposed or fully closed position;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary detail showing the blade ring latch in an operative position;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary front view showing the shutter setting and releasing mechanism, the parts being shown in a fully set position for an exposure of of a second;

Fig. 15 is a View similar to Fig. 14 but with the parts shown released for a bulb exposure, the

lades being fully open;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary detail plan of the operating handle latch;

Fig. 1-7 is a view similar to Figs. 14 and 15, but with the parts set for extreme high speed;

Fig. 18 is a detail plan View showing portions of the high speed mechanism with auxiliary spring t'ensioned;

Fig. 19 is a section taken on line I9l9 of Fig. 17;

Fig. 20 is a front View with partsremoved showing diaphragm leaves and operating mechanism;

Fig. 21 is an enlarged section taken on line 2l2l of Fig. 20;

Fig. 22 shows the speed adjusting cam removed from the shutter, the cam followers being shown in position;

Fig 23 is a fragmentary detail showing thesynchronizing gear train positioned for a 20 millisecond delay;

Fig. 24 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the oscillatable disk and associated r'e tard and taken on'line 24- 24 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 25 is a plan view of the synchronizing cam amma 3 removed from the shutter with cam follower indicated in position for millisecond retard;

Fig. 26 is fragmentary detail of synchronizing switch removed from shutter.

My invention comprises broadly a shutter having blades of a symmetrical type movable in one direction only for opening and closing to make an exposure. In setting the blades are likewise moved but in a reverse direction. Consequently I use diaphragm leaves which automatically cover the exposure aperture while the blades open and close during the setting movement. It further Comprises mechanisms for operating the blades and diaphragm mechanism in synchronized relationship and for producing a shutter having a wide range of exposures of automatic duration in time as well as mechanism for producing a manually controlled exposure.

In the preferred form of my invention shown in the drawings, the shutter may include the usual type of casing i having a central aperture EA through which light passes in making an exposure. The casing is provided with an upstanding annular flange 2 and this flange is provided with a series of milled-out clearance portions 3, these portions being provided to permit certain parts to move through their full path of movement. As indicated in Figure 8, the bottom wall of the shutter 4 is annular in shape and it includes the usual rearWardly-extending tubular portion 5 normally threaded on the outside at 6 for attachment to a support, and threaded on the inside at l to receive the usual lens mount. The shutter casing is divided roughly into two chambers 8 and 9 by means of a mechanism plate it. This mechanism plate consists of a ringshaped member having an upstanding flange H of a generally cylindrical form and a forwardlyextending tubular member l2 internally threaded at E3 to support the front lens Ll The mech anism plate is secured in place by means of posts carried by the bottom of the shutter 4 and by means of screws passing through the mechanism plate it and into these posts. As this construction is customary, the posts and screws are not shown in the drawings.

The upstanding flange 2 of the shutter casing is preferably provided with a rim it which may be rabbeted at l5 if desired so as to receive a time-control cam l6 which is in the form of an annular ring and which is provided with a knurled edge ii for turning the ring, a rabbet l8 and a flange is, providing a space in which a flash cam ring 2% may turn. The rabbet l8 receives an edge 22 of an etched plate 23 which also is provided with ears 24 forming a part of a bayonet type latch, the slots or notches 25 in the tubular member 5 2 forming the other part of the bayonet latch. This etched plate, when placed on the front of the shutter, remains in a fixed position, although the time-control cam supported on its outer periphery, may turn freely a distance necessary to bring a pointer 26 carried by the time-control cam opposite any one of the shutter speed graduations 21 carried by the etched plate 23.

Generally speaking, the shutter mechanism is contained in the chamber 8 above the mechanism plate H 3 and the shutter blades 2;! and the diaphragm leaves I are carried in the chamber 9 beneath the mechanism plate.

The shutter blades 29 are of the symmetricallyshaped type which move only in one direction for opening and closing the exposure aperture 2. Each shutter blade, Figs. 2 and 3, 29 may be piv- 4 otally attached at 30 to a blade ring 3| and each shutter blade .29 may include a pin 32 extending into a slot 33 in a second blade ring 34. Each blade ring 3! and 34 is, as shown in Fig. 8, mounted to move in an arcuate slot, blade ring 34 in a slot 35 and blade ring 3! in a slot 36 formed in the underside of the mechanism plate it. Each of these blade rings may therefore slide in their annular slot, and motion from one blade ring is transmitted to the opposite blade ring by means of a double-ended lever 37 as shown in Figs. 2

- and 3. Lever 37 is carried on a pivot 38 and may freely turn thereon and includes a pair of oppositely disposed slots 39 and 48, the slot 39 em gaging a pin 4! carried by the blade ring 34 and the slot 46 engaging a, pin 42 carried by the blade ring 3i. Thus, movement or ring 34 is simultaneously transmitted to blade ring 3! and as these blade rings move in opposite directions, the blades are moved in one direction through their path of movement, thus opening and closing the shutter aperture EA.

The blade ring 3i in this instance is the driven member and for this purpose the blade ring includes an upstanding arm 43 which has two radially and annularly offset contact surfaces 44 and #35. These surfaces include a connecting surface 45 which is rounded into the contact surface 45 by the curved wall 47.

There is a blade ring latch 48 pivoted on a stud 49 and having a latching element 56 lying in the path of movement of a latching element 5| carried by the blade ring 34. The latched position is shown in Fig. 2 and the unlatched position is shown in Fig. 3. The blade rings are latched when the shutter is set and before an exposure is to be made.

The blade ring 34 as best shown in Fig. 13 carries an ear 250 supporting an upstanding holding pin 25! which may be made of a round rod milled in half to provide a shoulder 52. This pin moves in the direction shown by the arrow on the blade ring 34 in Fig. 13 when an exposure is to made and the pin 25! may be engaged and held by the latch 53 when the blades 29 are moved to an open position. Latch 53 is pivotally mounted on a stud 54 carried by the mechanism plate and may be moved by a spring 255 (Fig. 15) in a counter-clockwise direction about the pivot 54. This latch 53 and shoulder 52 are for temporarily holding the shutter with the shutter blades 29 in their wide-open position for exposures of less than the highest speed. This will be more fully described later.

The driving mechanism or master member construction is best shown in Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive. The master member 55 is pivoted on a stud 56, this stud being carried by a lever 5! pivoted to the mechanism plate on a pivot 58. A spring 59 tends to turn this lever in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 9. As indicated in Fig. 14, a power spring 63 is attached to a pin 68 carried by the master member and to a stud 62 carried by the shutter casing. This spring always tends to turn the master member in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 9. The master member includes an upstanding flange 63 about which the spring may be partially wrapped when the master member is in a position of tension or when it is set as shown in Fig. 9.

The master member 55 includes a flange 64 which carries a striking surface 65 which, in this instance, is shown as being a half-round pin. It likewise includes an upstanding flange 66, the function of which is to operate a shutter retard arm 61 as shown in Fig. 14. The master member :55: in Fig. 9 is shown in its set position from which position it operates to make exposures from. one second to /400 of a second according to the setting. The arm 51 may be moved by means of a cam 68 to position the master member 55 for ihighspeed exposures of /800 of a second. Thus, .the master member is swung bodily on the pivoted lever 57 between the high speed and the normal speed positions when the timee-control cam 16 is moved.

Thetime-control cam lfiwas shownin. Fig. 22 consists of a ring movably mounted'on the shutter casingas above described, this ring including a cam lug E8 whichis the highspeed lug in that when the cam ring is moved until the pointer 26 is opposite the graduation 8110 as indicated in Fig. 1, the cam followerfifi, shown in Figs. 5 and 22, is moved radially outwardly, by. the cam 58, thereby swinging the lever 5?.i11 asubstantially radial direction against the action of its spring59 and positioning the master member in the highspeed position of Figure 10. The cam follower89 is preferably made by milling 01? a portion of the head (ll of the stud 55 on which the master member 55 is mounted to swing. However, this is just a convenience in manufacture. From the cam shown in Fig. 22 itwill be noticed that in the present embodiment of vmy invention the cam follower 69 is only moved when the lug 58 engages it .andthis only occurs when the highest speed /aoo is to be used. In all other positions the cam follower is moved down against the concentric cam surface H in which the. lever 5'! is held in its normal speed position. That is, the position in which it will lie for all shutter speeds other than /800. and including bulb.

.It will be noticed from Fig. 5 that the master member 55 lies above the mechanism plate!!! and from Fig. 8 thatthe blade ring 3! which carries ,the driving arm .43 lies beneath the mechanism plate. From the small section A-A in Fig. 8 it will be noticed that this is accomplished by bending'the arm 43 sharply upwardly at 12 and outwardly atlz so that theradiallyextending arm 43 may lie substantially in the plane of the master member 55 and in a position to be struck by the striking surface 65.

In order to set and release the shutter, Ipreferably provide a manually-operable lever M as shown inFig. 6. This leverhas a handle 15 which projects through a slot 16 in the upstanding flange 2 of the shutter casing (Fig. 14). Referring to Fig. 6, the manually-operable leveris an arcuate plate having arcuate slots Ti and 18 posite end of spring 82 engaging. an abutment 8.4. Spring 8| lies in a groove 85 in .the mechanism plate It and spring 32 lies in a similar groove 86, the purpose of these two. springs being to normally hold the manually-operated lever M in. a normal position of rest indicated by R inFig. 4. This figure also shows the setposition .S of the lever 15 and the tripped position T since the single lever 14' is used to both set and trip the shutter, and serves both for. a shutter setting lever and a trigger.

Referring again to Fig. 6, the lever 14 includes a releasing lug 8'! formed. upwardly from the leverand includesan offset arm 88 having an upturned flange 89. Lever 14 has an extendedgarm 9D, the purpose of which will be later described. On the-opposite end of the lever it therelisa nose 9| which is positioned to engage'andvmove the master member 55 through engagement with part 64 thereof, so as'to swing the 'mastermemher to its set position as shown in Fig; 6. Atthe same time. an upwardly-extending. lug. 92 carried by the lever I l-may engage and turn the blade ring arm 43-so that it too will bemoved to :the set position'shown in Fi 6.

When the master member 43 is moved to :its set position (Figs. .17 and 18) it may be held-in this position byxmeans of a master member-latch element 94 pivoted on a stud 54 and pressed by.:.a sprin 255 in a clockwise direction so that the endSI. of this lever; which is a formed-down lug, mayengage the flange. 98 to retain the-master member in its set position. When set for-.high speed the master. member 43 travels substantially th same distance as for normal speeds 'but returns some distance before it is latched. due-.to the position of the master member. pivot56 which hasto bemoved by arm .51. This dilferencein set position for high. and normal speeds can .readily be eliminated if a larger shutter casing ver extends into .the path of the upstandingilug :81 ofthe manually-operable lever 14 and, consequently, when the handle 15 is moved from the rest position shown in Fig. 1'7 to the tripped-positionof'Fig. 4, the lug Bl engages the arm' l'fl'l, releasing the tooth I53, permittin the oscillatable member I00 to turn in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 17, so that tooth IUB WiII strike arm 99 and'release the latch'9'Z-'98-so that themaster: member may turn in :a counterclockwise direction about its pivot 56. When this occurs, the pin 55 carried by the master member, which is the striking surface of the master mem 'ber, will-move the arm 53 in the mannercabove described to produce the time of exposure indi- .cated bythe pointer '25 and the graduation .21 in.Fig...1.

When any but the highest speed exposure is'to .be. made, .the. bladering 34 swings in a clockwise direction under the impulse of the striking-surface 65 against the contact surface 45 of the blade ring armdfl. This movement swings the flat surface 52 of pin 25l into contact with'the blade ring holding latch 53which latch is in-the Fig. 13-position. Thus, movement of the blades is temporarily or momentarily arrested while the pin-or striking surface t5 swings across the connecting surfaces 4'! and 46 of the blade ring arm 33 and just. before movement of the arm 43 is re-.

sumed by the striking surface 65 striking the contact surface 44,the flange 53 will strike the end HE! of the latch 53 as indicated in FigQ-I3, moving'this latch out of engagement Withthe pin25l so that when the strikingsurface 65 engages the'contact surface 4'4 the blades are free to move to their fully-closed position. The blades will be held in theirfully-closed position because the striking surface -65 remains incontact with the master member arm -43. The blades 7 therefore will be held against movement after an exposure.

In order to hold the blades against movement before exposure, the latch shown in Fig. 3 is used. This latch is spring-held in the operative position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and, as indicated in Fig. 2, engages the point 5I on the blade ring 36 when the shutter is in its set position. Consequently, a jar will not tend to open the set shutter blades. Fig. 7 shows the spring II2 which positions a latch 48 and also indicates how this latch is released. When the arcuate plate It; is moved by the handle I5 from its rest position R towards its tripped position T, the lever moves in a counterclockwise direction and a shoulder II3 on this latch Will engage the upstanding lug I I4 turning member 58 in a counter-clockwise di rection, thereby releasin the latch element 55 from the latch element 5I. The relative positions of the shoulder I I 53 and the lug I I4 are such that the blade rings are released before the striking surface 53 can move the necessary distance to move the blade ring arm 43.

The present embodiment of my shutter does not include time exposure, that is, an exposure which is made by opening the shutter blades by depressing the trigger once and then by closing the shutter blades by depressing the trigger a second time. It does, however, include a means for producing a manually-controlled and prolonged exposure of the usual bulb typethat is, an exposure in which the trigger is depressed to open the shutter blades and in which the trigger is released to close them. To obtain this bulb exposure, use is made of the blade ring latch 53 best shown in Figs. 13 to 15 inclusive. This latch 53 is normally held by the spring 255 against a stop pin H6. The latch includes an upstanding lug II? which is so positioned that it may beengaged by a, hook I I8 on the bulb lever I I9 which is pivoted on the stud 58, also carrying the master member pivoted lever 57!. A spring I2Il tends to turn the bulb lever in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 14. This movement can only be accomplished when the upturned lug I2I can move a limited distance in the cam slot I22 shown in Fig. 22. The rest of this cam slot is a concentric groove I23 and when in this groove, the lug I2-I will hold the bulb lever in its inoperative position shown in Fig. 14. However, as the speed cam control ring is turned until the pointer 26 lies opposite the graduation B, the lug I2! is brought into the widened cam area I22 so that the spring I20 will thrust the hook II8 behind the lug II! of the blade ring latch. The blades will be held in their fully-opened position because the latch 53 can no longer be released by the flange 63 of the master member 43. Thus, the blades will be opened when the handle, serving as a trigger, I5 is depressed. When the handle 15 is released, the upstanding lug 81 moves away from arm III! of the oscillatable member latch I04, so that the spring I05 can turn this latch member moving the arm I55 so that it will engage the upstanding lug I M which also engages the cam slot I23. This will turn the bulb lever about its pivot 58 against its spring I25 causing the bulb lever H9 to be moved back from its Fig. 15 to its Fig. 14 position. As Soon as the hook IE3 releases the upstanding lug I H the master member flange 63, through its engagement with the blade ring latch, releases this latch so that the master member can then close the shutter blades. The duration of a bulb exposure of course depends on the length of time that the handle "I5 is depressed since the blades 8 open when the handle I5 is moved from its R to its T position and closed when the handle moves from its T to is R position.

As above pointed out, the shutter blades 29 open and close in moving in one direction. Consequently, it is necessary to close the exposure aperture while the opening and closing movement of the blades takes place in setting the shutter. Certain features of the diaphragm leaf closing mechanism are similar to the Diaphragm shutter shown in my Patent 2,362,547 granted November 14, 1944, although the particular means for operating this mechanism is quite diiferent.

Referring to Fig. 20, in the present embodiment of my invention I provide three diaphragm leaves I35, each of these leaves being pivotally mounted on pins I3I carried by the fixed diaphragm ring I32 also shown in Fig. 8. Each diaphragm leaf is provided with a cam slot I33 which engages a pin I34 carried by an adjustable diaphragm ring I35, this ring including recessed portions I36 permitting the ring to move about the pins I3I. The movable diaphragm ring I35 includes n upstanding pin I35 which is engaged by the slot I 31 in the end I38 of a lever I39, this lever being pivoted on a stud I40 carried by the mechanism plate It.

The lever I39 includes an offset arm I II having a pair of spaced upstanding ears I42 and I43, each of which is slotted to receive and hold an end I44 of a leaf spring M5, the opposite end of which engages n ear I55 011 a pivoted lever I ll, also mounted to turn on the stud I40. The lever I41 includes a flange M8 on the arm I49, this flange being positioned to be engaged by the striking surface 65 of the master member 43. This engagement only occurs when the master member is turning towards its set position and the relative position of flange I48 and the striking surface 55 is so arranged that the diaphragm leaves will be opened after the shutter blades have opened and closed during the setting movement.

The lever I 87 carries a latch element I50 which may be engaged by a latch element I5I carried by the bell crank lever I52. This lever is pivoted on a stud I53 and, as shown in Fig. 14, a spring I54 tends to turn this lever in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 26 and into a position to latch the lever I 'I'I in a position to hold the diaphragm leaves in an open position. The bell crank lever I52 is provided with an upstanding ear I55, this ear lying in the path of movement of the blade ring arm 13 and particularly the cam end I56 thereof, (Fig. 7). Referring to Fig. 6, when lever 53 swings to the left with respect to this figure, it will strike part I rocking the bell crank lever I52 in a clockwise direction so as to release the latch I 50. When this is done, the diaphragm lever spring I51. (Fig. 20), through its engagement with a lug I58, will swing the lever I39 in a closing direction so that the diaphragm leaves will be completely closed shortly after the shutter blades have opened and closed to make an exposure.

The diaphragm leaf adjusting ring I35 is provided with a hook I55 which controls the total opening movement of the diaphragm leaves under the impulse of lever Ml. Since there is a flexible connection or a lost motion connection between the lever I l? and the lever I39 because of the leaf spring I45, this spring will permit the diaphragm leaves to stop in any position determined by the pin IISI, which pin is controlled by movement of a diaphragm operating plate I64 best shown in Fig. 8. A diaphragm finger piece I65 extends fromzpart I64 up, across the upstanding flange 2 ofthe shutter casing, terminating in a diaphragm pointer I66 which, as shown in Fig. 1, can be brought opposite a suitable graduation I51 of the diaphragm scale arranged around the bottom of the etched'plate 23. This diaphragm blade stop is similar to that shown in my patent although the means for actuating the diaphragm lever I39 is quite different.

There are a number of advantages in providing an oscillatable member I09 which can swing upon its stud IBI under the impulse of its own spring I02 for operating the shutter. First, such an scillatable member permits a shutter in which the trigger or release lever can be so arranged that an excessively light pressure on the trigger will release the shutter and this occurs without any tendency to shake the shutter. Second, it provides a part co-acting with the release of the shutter in such a manner that movement of the oscillatable member always bears a definite relationship to the various positions of the shutter blades. Consequently, it forms an ideal member on which a switch can beplaced to make a circuit which can be used for synchronizing flash lamps. Third, it adds but little to the necessary force required for settingthe shutter since the flange 89, throughits engagement with a tooth I 65, turns the oscillatable member as the handle 'is moved to set the master member and the shutter blades.

If desired, my shutter may be equipped with a connecting plug I10 '(Fig. 4) having one terminal I1I connected to an insulated wire I12 and having a second terminal I13 connected to a wire I14 grounded to the casing. The wire I12 may be passed around the flange 2. of the shutter casing in any convenient manner but preferably in a shallow groove I15, and it may be connected to a terminal I16 (Fig. 4) forming one element of a switch. The other element I11 of the switch is carried by a bell crank lever I18. This lever, as shown in Fig. 4, carries a pivot I19 on which a latch element I80 is mounted to turn, a spring I8'I normally holding a lug I82 in the position shown in Fig. 4 against the bell crank lever. The opposite end I83 of the bell crank lever carries 'a gear segment I84, meshing with a pinion I85, carrying a flywheel or weight I85.

Each time the oscillatable member I00 turns in a clockwise direction, a tooth I81 may engage latch-arm I89 so as to turn the bell crank lever to control the speed of operation of the oscillatable member I08. The degree of engagement of this retarding member with the oscillatable member IIlIlmay be controlled by the cam ring shown in Fig. 25. This ring 2I is provided with a step camcomprising three stepsI9Il, I9I, and I92. A pin I93 carried by the bell-crank lever I98 engages these cams and controls the time when the switch I11-I16 makes contact relative to the full, open position of the blades. As indicated in Fig. 1, there is a pin I95 extending through a slot I96 in the etched plate 23. This pin may be moved oppositegraduations I91 indicating the required millisecond delay for various different flash bulbs. For instance, the No. 5 flash bulb happens to require a five-millisecond delay and since the pin I95 is set at 5 in Fig. 1, the pin I93 in Fig. being similarly positioned will give the required delay so that the flash lamp will reach its full brilliance while the shutter blades are fully opened.

The pin I93. is carried by the insulated section I98 which can be swung about the stud I99 on which; the bell crank lever I18 is mounted.

Thus; movement of the cam 2| controls the position of theinsulated segment I 'iflandwith it the contact I16 relative to the contact H1. The latch I carries an upstanding lug 200, this lying in the path of pin Hill on the flash-adjusting cam 2I and contacting with it when the contact ring is adjusted to the zero position shown in'Fig. 1. In this position the latch I89 will be rocked against the action of its spring IBI into an inoperative position so that the switch mechanism may not be moved at all when thesynchronizing cam 2! is setto the zero position.

While it is possible toobtain the extremely high speeds with the single spring 89 driving the master member, ifdesired, an additional spring can be brought-intoplay for the highest speed exposure here shown as ,4 of a second. Thisis accomplished inthe manner-shown in Figs 18 and 19. On the master member pivot 56 I provide a lever 2I0 which is' mounted to freely turn on the pivot 53. One end of spring 2 I I engages lever2 I8 and is coiled at 2I2 about the post 5th The arm 266) may be engaged by-one of the steps of cam 2 l3 so that when the pointer Ziiisbroughtopposite the 800 on the scale 21, the leverZIllwill be turnedto the position shown in Fig. 18, while at the same time portion fifiof the camwi'll hold the cam follower 69 in-its raised or high-speed position. Thus, spring 212' is addedto spring 69 for the'highestspeed exposure only by turning the speed cam ringso that the cam follower E9 swings the pivoted lever in a generally radial direction to its high speed position. When'the cam follower $9. is allowed to return to cam surface H, spring ZIZis unwound so that-it is no longer operative to assist spring I58. In many casesit maybe found that this additionalwspring is entirelyunnecessary but ithas beendescribed asa useful additionto the master member described above.

The stepped cam surfaoe'2 I3 is positioned to engage an upstanding pin 220 carried by arm 61 pivoted-on astud 22 I. A spring 222-tends to turn this arm. in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 4 so thatthe pin 220 resting, against the stepped cam 2I3-limitsthe degree of engagement of this arm with the master member lug 66. Gear segment 223-meshes with a-pinion 224 of a train of gears terminating in. a. starwheel 225 1 with which a pallet228 may be engaged. The pallet 226 is pivoted at 221 upon alever 228 pressed by aspring 229 into a starwheel-engaging position. However, thepin 221 extends upwardly into the cam slot239-as indicated inFigure 22, so that the starwheel is only engagedfor some. of the more prolonged automatic exposures.

When-setting the shutter it is necessary to move the handle-15.fully,to the set position S. The settingmovement of the manually operable lever 14 causes .nose..9l to engage and move the master member 64 and-thelug 92.0n lever I l-to move the blade rings through arm 43. Also striking surface 65 of the master member must strike flange I48 to open the diaphragm leaves I38 and latch them openby latchIBB-IEI. Since the diaphragm leaves must beopened only-after the shutter blades openand close and. the timing is close, full setting is important.

A latch is therefore provided whichwill make it necessary to fully set the handle 19 through the last and critical part of its travel. Referring to Fig. 6 shows the extreme end 235 of the arcuate lever 14 'asconstituting one latch element, and'the downwardly. extendingspring 239the other. latch-element. Spring, 236' hasa down- 11 wardly turned flange 237 fastened on arm 258 of the oscillatable member latch lever lilii as by rivets 239. In Fig. 6 D shows the critical. final setting movement. If not fully set and the setting lever returns before reaching this last movement, no harm is done.

When handle 15 is moved towards its set position S, Fig. 16, the cam surface 2 5% swings lever I05 t the left in Fig. 16 so flange 237i lies below latch 235 and consequently any reverse movement after passing the spring latch is prevented. Further movement of handle 15 swings the oscillatable member lllil so that cam passes lever I and as soon as tooth ills snaps past latch edge lll l the shutter, as well as the oscillatable member are all completely set and are now ready for exposure. This is a safety feature, not essential but useful.

In order to visualize the size of my present shutter constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of my invention, as shown in the drawings, it might be pointed out that the view in Fig. 4 is approximately four times the actual size of this shutter which will be known a No. 1 shutter. It is probable that there will be at least one smaller size and several larger sizes, but the first shutter is being considered the No. 1 size which has a clear exposure aper ture of .765 inch. Throughout the drawings npli'cant has endeavored to closely follow the v rious parts to actual scale although in some instances, and particularly where springs are shown, it is impossible to show them of the correct thickness and still retain the type of showing required in Patent Office drawings. In many of the views, parts have been omitted an eifort to clearly show the construction of other parts. I have been able to obtain, with the abovedescribed shutter mechanism, an exposure of of a second with a clear exposure aperture of .765 inch using the standard system of measuring efiective exposures. It is undoubtedly possible to obtain considerably faster exposures at some sacrifice of durability because I have provided extremely high speeds utilizing only springs of the type which are now in use in standard shut ters on the market without increasing the ten.- sion on these springs. This is accomplished by reducing the moving parts necessary for driving I the shutter blades from the master member to a minimum. In addition, I have provided a shutter in which the release requires only a very light or delicate pressure on the trigger, thereby noticeably reducing vibration of the shutter which frequently occurs from relatively heavy trigger pressure. The master member is small and of comparatively light weight and it acts directly upon an arm carried by one of the blade rings so that additional intermediate parts heretofore rather generally used have been omitted.

The master member has a striking surface which moves through an arcuate path. this path being changed for normal speed and high speed exposures. The length of the striking surface of the master member is only approximately one-third the length of the blade ring arm measuring each from its own center of rotation. The master member striking surface 55 travels about twice as many degrees about its pivot before striking the contact surface M for high speed than it does for striking surface 45 for "normal speed in the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings. This data is by way of illustration since it is obvious that by altering the s ze of the parts these various ratios can be readily changed.

However, I have found the above data desirable in an extremely compact shutter of the type shown in the present embodiment of my invention.

The operation of my improved shutter is extremely simple, although a description of the various movements of the parts which take place inside the shutter casing is necessarily rather long. Assuming the shutter is in its normal condition of rest after an exposure has been made, as shown for instance in Fig. 4, the handle 115, which serves both as a trigger and a setting lever, is in its position of rest R. The operator selects the required speed by turning the narrow ring speedadjusting cam is until the pointer 26 is brought opposite a graduation 21 on the shutter cover plate 23. If the diaphragm opening has not been selected, the lever E66 may be moved to the required diaphragm opening graduation l6! also on the cover plate 23. If a flash exposure is not required, the knob Hi5 may be moved to the graduation zero on the scale iii? on the shutter cover plate.

The operator then moves handle 15 from its rest position R to its set position S. This movement accomplishes a series of different things. First, referring to Fig. 6, the nose 9! of the lever M strikes part M of the master member, turning it to its set position and Winding up the driving spring Bil. Second, the lug 92 on the lever 14 moves the blade ring arm 43 about its center of rotation causing the shutter blades to open and close. Third, the striking member 65 on the master member engages the lever M9 swinging it to tension spring M5, this spring in turn, as shown in Fig. 20, overcoming spring E5! of the diaphragm leaf lever I39 and causing the diaphragm leaves to open to the pre-selected stop as controlled by the pin l 6! and the hook Hill on the diaphragm leaf-adjusting ring I35. Fourth, the movement of the lever 74, as indicated in Fig. 6, causes flange 89 to engage the oscillatable member or starwheel tooth Hi5 turning this member while tensioning its spring Hi2. As all these movements are accomplished, various latches drop into position to hold the parts in their set position.

The master member is held in its set position by means of the latching flange 9'? engaging the master member flange 98. The shutter blade arm :33 is held in its position by means of the latch 53 engaging the blade ring latch 5|. The oscillatable member Hill is held in its latched position by means of the end 564 of the latch I05, droppin behind the tooth 83 on the oscillatable member. All of the parts are positioned automatically, and there is an additional safety spring latch 23% adapted to momentarily hold the latch element 235 of the lever it against backward movement until all of the parts have been moved and latched in their set position. The shutter is now ready for an exposure and it should be noticed that as soon as the full setting stroke has been accomplished, the release of the handle 15 causes the spring 86 to return the setting lever from its S position to its rest or R position shown in Fig. 1 from which position the handle l5 may serve as a trigger to release the shutter. With the parts set as indicated in Fig. 14, (which shows the shutter set but which does not show the shutter handle 15 released and returned to its R position) the trigger may be depressed moving the handle E5 from its R. position to its tripped position T. This movement causes the lug 8'! of lever M to strike arm [ill of lever I05 turning this oscillatable member latch in a clockwise directionand releasin the tooth I03 from the'latch N34; The oscillatable member lilll turning under the power of its own'spring will cause tooth I98 to strike the end 99 of the master member latch releasing the latchelement 91 from the shoulder 98'and permitting the master member to turn. As the master member turns, since the-shutter has been set for a normal speed exposure, the striking surface -65 wi1l first engage the contact surface 45 swinging the blade ring 3| in a counter-clockwise direction while blade ring 34 moves in an opposite direction. The striking member will ride over faces l! and 46 during which time the blade rings will momentarily remain stationary because of the engagement of latch 53'and pin 25!. However, when the striking surface 65 engages contact surface 44 flange 53 of the master member releases-the latch 53 and as the pin 65 engages the surface the latch, having been just released, permits the shutter arm @3 to be again drivento close the blades. ihe shutter blades will be held in a closed position because of'the pressure of the striking member 55 on the arm 43.

If the'shutter should have'been set for its high speed exposure, the master member would be given an additional impetus because the spring 2 I 2 carried by the lever 2 I is tensioned when the speed-adjusting camis moved. Thus, not only is the master member driven under higher spring power for the top speed exposure but, in addition, the striking surface 65 thereof travels a greater distance since it directly engages the surface 44 of the blade ring arm 43 and swings it in onecontinuous, smooth, uninterrupted movementto open and close the blades. During this movement the blade ring latch 53 is held out of its operative position.

If the shutter had been set for bulb exposures, the latch 53 would be held in by the bulb lever H 9 through the engagement with the upstandinglug H! on the blade ring latch, so that it would require an upward movement of the handle from its T position to its R position in orderfor theshutter blades to close.

If a synchronized flash is to be used, the knob l 95 is set to the required graduation on scale I91 and the shutter is actuated exactly as before, except that since the oscillatable member I00 has aspeed definitely related to the opening and closing of the shutter leaves, the required millisecond delay can be accuratelyobtained. If the flash is not to be used, the knob 195 is turned to the zero graduation so that the flash retard mechanism is then inoperative.

While I have described a preferred form of my invention, it is obvious that many variations can be made from the specific structure shown in the drawings and described in the above specification without departing from my invention as defined in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a camera of the type including an apertured casing, two interconnected blade rings movably mounted in the casing, shutter blades operatively connected to the blade rings for movement to make an exposure through the shutter casing aperture, the combination with said blade rings, of a master member, means for setting and releasing the master member, a striking surface on the master member movable through an arcuate path, an arm on one blade ring positioned to be struck by the striking member for operating the shutter blades, a diaphragm mechanism including leaves spring pressed toward an aperture phragm mechanism closing" position, a first diaphragm operating lever, aseconddiaphragm lever, aresilient connection between the first and second'levers; the

second lever lyingin the path of the striking surface for closing the diaphragm leaves, said means for setting and releasing. the master member:

causing movement of the'striking surface in one direction forsetting. the shutter, said movement opening the diaphragm leaves. through thefirst' diaphragm operating lever, the second diaphragm lever and the resilient connection between the first and secondlevers, said strikingsurface mov ing. in atreverse direction when the mastermenr ber-isreleased for operating the'shutter blades wherebythe diaphragm mechanism spring may.

move thezleaves to 1 a closed position.

2. A'shutter asdefined in claim 1 characterized by a means? for delaying the closin of thediaphragmleaves' until said shutter blades have closed aftenanexposure is completed.

3. Ashutter-as defined in claim' 1 pharacterized' by a. shutter bladering latch positioned tostop movement ofsaid' shutter blade ringwith the blades fully openedsaid blade ring latch being positioned for release through movement of the master member andmeans-for releasing the. diae phragm" mechanism including leavesfor move ment under theimpulse of the spring tending to movethe diaphragm leaves to a -closed position only-afte'r'said latch has been released-by the master, member.

4. A shutter asldeflned in claim 1 characterized by axpivoted lever carrying the master member.

into either of two positions, the strikin surface ofthe mastermernber and the lever operating the diaphragm leaves being positioned to co-act. in both positions of the master member.

5. In a camera'o-f the type including an apertured casing, two interconnected blade rings movably' mounted in the-casing, shutter blades-operatively. connected to the blade'rings for movement to make an' exposure through the shutter casing'aperture, the .-cornbination with said blade rings, of a master-member, means for setting and releasing the master member, a striking suriace on the master member movable through an arcuatepath, an arm on one blade ring positioned to be struckand moved by the striking member for opening and closing theshutter blades, a diaincluding leaves spring pressed toward an aperture-closingposition, a diaphragm operating lever'lying in the path .of and movable by the striking'member for open-- ing the diaphragm leaves against the diaphragm mechanismclosing spring, and a lost motion connection between the diaphragm leverand the diaphragm mechanism coacting with means for limiting the opening movement of the diaphragm lever to a predetermined extent.

6. In a camera of the type including an apertured casing, two interconnected blade rings movably mounted in the casing, shutter blades operatively connected to the blade rings for movement to make an exposure through the shutter casing aperture, the combination with said blade rings, of a master member, means for setting and releasing the master member, a striking surface on the master member movable through an arcuate path, an arm on one blade ring positioned to be struck and moved by the striking member for opening and closing the shutter blades, a diaphragm mechanism including leaves spring pressed toward an aperture closing position, a first diaphragm operating lever, for moving the diaphragm leaves, a second diaphragm lever lying in the path of and movable by the striking member for opening the diaphragm leaves against the diaphragm mechanism closing spring, a lost motion connection between the first and second diaphragm levers including a leaf spring anchored on the first diaphragm lever at one end and contacting the second diaphragm lever at the opposite end, whereby the diaphragm leaves may be resiliently pressed toward an open position by said leaf spring.

'7. In a camera iof the type including an apertured casing, two interconnected blade rings movably mounted in the casing, shutter blades operatively connected to the blade rings for movement to make an exposure through the shutter casing aperture, the combination with said blade rings, of a master member, means for setting and releasing the master member, a striking surface on the master member movable through an arcuate path, an arm on one blade ring positioned to be struck and moved by the striking member for opening and closing th shutter blades, a diaphragm mechanism including leaves spring pressed toward an aperture closing position, a first diaphragm lever operably connected to the leaves, a second diaphragm operating lever lying in the path of and movable by the striking member for opening the diaphragm leaves through the first diaphragm lever, and a lost motion connection between the first and second diaphragm levers including a leaf spring, a lug on the second diaphragm lever against which one end of the leaf spring may rest, the first diaphragm lever includ-v ing a pair of slotted spaced lugs carried by the first diaphragm lever, the other end of said leaf spring engaging and being held by the slots of the pair of spaced lugs.

8. In a camera shutter of the type including an apertured casing, two interconnected blade rings movably mounted in the casing, shutter leaves operatively connected to the blade rings for movement to make an exposure through the shutter casing aperture, the combination with said blade rings, of a master member, means for producing the exposures of different durations including a pivoted lever movably carrying the master member, a striking surface on the master member having an arcuate path of movement, means for setting and releasing the master member, an arm carried by a blade ring having different contact surfaces thereon and positioned to co-act with the master member striking surface, means for m OVing the pivoted lever to select the contact surface of the arm to be struck by the striking surface of the master member, to operate the blade rings to make an exposure, diaphragm leaves, a pivotal mount for the leaves movable to close the shutter casing aperture, a pivoted lever for operating said leaves, a spring tending to close said leaves, a setting member for tensioning the master member, an arm carried by the setting member for engaging and moving a pivoted lever for moving the diaphragm leaves to an open position, a leaf spring connecting the pivoted lever operating the shutter blades and the pivotal mount for the leaves for transmitting movement therethrough, the means for setting and releasing the master member including means for tensioning the master member by turning said master member about its pivot, and means included in the setting member for engaging the generally radially-extending arm of the blade ring to move the blades as the master member is being set.

9. In a camera shutter of the type including an apertured casing, two interconnected blade rings movably mounted in the casing, shutter leaves operatively connected tothe blade rings for movement to make an exposure through the shutter casing aperture, the combination with said blade rings, of a master member, means for producing the exposures of different durations including a pivoted lever movably carrying the master member, a striking surface on the master member having an arcuate path of movement, means for setting and releasing the master member, an arm carried by a blade ring having different contact surfaces thereon and positioned toco-act with the master member striking surface, means for moving the pivoted lever to select the contact surface of the arm to be struck by the striking surface of the master member, to operate the blade rings to make an exposure, diaphragm leaves, a pivotal mount for the leaves movable to close the shutter casing aperture, a pivoted lever for operating said leaves, a spring tending to close said leaves, a setting member for tensioning the master member, and a lever having an arcuate path of movement about approximately the center of rotation of the blade ring and including a lug to engage and move the blade ring arm while setting the master member.

CARL C. FUERST.

REFERENCES CXTED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Fuerst Sept. 11, 1945 Number 

